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Trump tweets that transgender people can’t serve in military

Sarah Ravani| on July 26, 2017

US President Donald Trump has banned transgender people from serving in the military “in any capacity.” President Obama's final defense secretary, Ash Carter, announced a policy last year that allowed transgender troops to serve in the military, and to undergo reassignment surgery. An estimated 2,500 to 7,000 transgender people are among the 1.3 million active duty service members.

Media: Wibbitz

President Trump set off a bipartisan firestorm Wednesday morning by tweeting that the government will not allow transgender people to serve in the military “in any capacity.”

In a series of early morning tweets, Trump wrote, “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.

“Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you,” he tweeted.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) quickly condemned Trump’s decision.

“This is discriminatory, and un-American,” Harris tweeted. “To the transgender servicemembers who defend our nation, I stand with you. We should honor the courage of Americans who volunteer to sacrifice for our nation, not turn them away.”